Well unfortunately, my father passed away last sunday. He fell out of the attic 2 weeks prior, and sustained some pretty serious brain trauma. The swelling in his brain was not going down as the doctors had hoped in the first 2 weeks, so they were forced to perform surgery. After surgery he went into a deep coma, and died 3 days later. He was 51.

This has definitely been a tough couple of weeks. I'm only 25 years old, my dad was supposed to be around for much longer. I've been living on my own for a year and half now 800 miles from home after graduating from LSU and taking a job in Fort Myers, FL.

I have a '93 coupe that I've had for right at 3 years now, and about 2 years ago, my dad bought himself a 1980 L82. He was so proud of it, and was slowly replacing parts, and fixing up the interior, and getting the engine running right. My stepmother told me that I could do whatever I wanted with it. If I wanted to sell it and use the money to put back into my '93, or use the money for anything else that would be my decision. I wasn't too sure at first what I wanted to do, because my '93 seems to need $500-$1500 worth of work every 3 or 4 months, so I wasn't convinced that taking in an even bigger "project car" would be the best decision. But after being back home all last week, and driving it around town the whole time, it became very clear what I wanted to do. Of course I was going to keep his C3. Yea it may need a little work here and there, but I knew it would be worth it the first time I started it up last week. That engine roared up, and started to idle......and I immediately got a huge grin across my face as I sat there with the whole car shaking just a bit, and that classic "blub blub" muscle car sound drowning everything else out. I'm going to have it trailered down from baton rouge right after christmas when my fiancee moves down here.

So to make a long story short, I'm new to the C3 section and will undoubtedly have some questions come January. In the meantime, I'll start cruising through the C3 section and studying up as much as I can.

Here she is:



Adam
'93 LT1
'80 L82

 

Adam~

I am very sorry for your loss, I havent experienced losing my father and I dread the day when I will have to face reality that he wont be here for me. Im glad your keeping his C3, everytime you drive it he will be right there with you grinning all the way.

The C3 group is different from the other sections, anything you need just let us know and someone will chime in and answer. There are a lot of great guys here who are very well versed with everything related to these old cars.

Welcome!

 

"That engine roared up, and started to idle......and I immediately got a huge grin across my face as I sat there with the whole car shaking just a bit, and that classic "blub blub" muscle car sound drowning everything else out."


Adam, Sorry about your dad. I bet he felt the same way you did when ever he started the vette. He was probably sitting right next to you. See you on the road. The3

 

Welcome to the world of C3
Really sorry to hear about your dad

 

Sorry for your loss. Your dad must of been prety cool owning a classic vette. My dad left me an old 85 Buick park avenue which I refuse to part with because it was his last car. Anyway welcome to the C-3 group. The guys here are just as knowledgable as you would expect.

 

I cannot express how heartwrenching your story is and I am truely sorry for your loss. Welcome to the C3 family and we look forward to helping you whenever you need a hand. Godspeed to your father; he is in a better place.

 

Adam, condolences, I was reading your post... sad... and then I got to the part. "He was 51." and let out a gasp. That is so young. My father died suddenly and unexpectedly when he was 50. It is very hard. Good luck with your vette(s). That 80 looks very nice.

 

Sorry to hear about the loss of your father. The ages are uncomfortably close to mine and my oldest son, the co-owner of our 72. If you had to sell one of the Vettes I would recommend selling the newer one and keeping the 80. C3s are inherently simpler vehicles and once you get it sorted out it should be pretty reliable, especially down in your area. The C3 will remind you of your Dad every time you drive it and you can't put a price on that.



Rick B.

 

Sorry about you losing your father.
The C3 is therapy on wheels,makes you forgot about the bad events of the day and help bring a smile to you when your drive is over.I might not post much here but this is definitely the best group of guys on the forum,very tight-knit group.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad Adam.
If it was me (or my son ) Build your dads car and drive it like he is there with ya

 

Very sorry to hear about your loss. Our family is all too familiar with TBI. Your '80 looks great. Take good care of it and it's looks will never let you down. It will only have mechanical problems during months that have 28 days.

 

sorry to hear of your familys loss, welcome to C3 land.....theres a lot of us in your dads age group here so i'm sure you will here some familar advice. bob

 

sorry to hear about your dad.
you have found the right place for help with your vette.
i'm sure there are many here that will help you .
just yell
ntq

 

My condolences to you and your family. I'm sure it's a bittersweet way to be welcomed into the wonderful world of the C3.

 

Sorry to here about the loss of your dad I lost my dad in 1976, still think about him often and smile,what a great guy. Glad you decided to keep the C3 they are very

 

so sorry to hear about your father , I think you have definately made the right decision to keep the C3 - If he was proud of it and was steadily restoring it , he would be proud of you for finshing the job for him.
I have had my C3 for about 3 months and have virtually lived on this forum since asking all sorts of silly questions. The people here are really experienced and are very willing to help
Welcome aboard!!

 

I got my first Corvette, a '70, in 1988 when my grandfather died at 74. He'd bought the car in 1980. He really wanted a '61 or '62, but didn't think he could afford it. He took good care of it and I continue to keep it up. Now my kids love riding in it. Since he always wanted a '61 or '62 so did I. Well this year has been good for me at work and I felt I could afford one and found a '61 I liked. My wife asked what I was going to do with the '70. I would never sell that car. I get in that car and I can still smell my grandfather's garage, see his workshop and see him working on it. I can't give you financial advice (it's not a cheap hobby), weather you keep it or not sounds like you inherited the same corvette gene we all have. Welcome to our wonderfully afflicted group.

 

Adam,
My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your Dad.
I think you will honor his memory by keeping and improving on his car whihc obviously brought him much joy and it will bring him joy again to see you enjoying it as he did. I am just a few years older than your Dad and I would be extremely happy if my son carried on the Corvette experience with my 68 as you are doing with your Dad's L82.
Welcome to the Corvette C-3 Forum, of course we wish it were under happier circumstances, but we are all willing to help with advice, suggestions, or any way we can. This is a great forum.
May you have many sun filled days and troublefree miles with the L82.
Drive it, enjoy it, your Dad will be sitting with you in spirit.
Kurt

 

From the other side of the world I send my condolences and wish all the best to you and your dadsC3

 

I am sorry for your loss,this forum welcomes you with open arms,I think I speak for all of us when I say we are sorry you had to lose your dad to end up in this forum and with that pretty red c3 but you are here and I promise you will learn alot from the people here.We may throw stones at each other every blue moon but we still stick together,after all we all share a common denominator,we all own c3's.Owning a vette is not just "owning a vette" it's a way of life as you have probably learned from having your c4.I hope you keep your dad's c3.My dad has always wanted one but he broke his back a few years ago and can't get in and out of mine.They can be frusterating at times but it is always worth it.....always.
Fix that thing up like your dad wanted to even if it takes you years.
Good luck,keep your chin up and we look forward to getting to know you and the red one.